Aluminum skin vs. fiberglass

Daveinet wrote:
Not all aluminum siding is the same. There is very thin aluminum siding, which is just a skin. It is thin enough that a very small amount of corrosion will eventually show up as holes. Because it is thin, it is going to be more prone to leaking, as it has no stiffness to support the joints. On the other hand, there is thicker aluminum siding that is structural. This is a whole different ball game. The aluminum is prestressed which adds strength and rigidity. Typically this will be riveted to the frame and adds strength to the whole structure. This is how my coach is built. It is 30 years old, and I have not ever done any maintenance to any of the seams. The shell has a lot of maintenance free life left in it.

yep, the only aluminum siding I would want would be the thicker stuff, I think HR used on their units.
bumpy

I agree with Dave. Depends on how it is done. I have had both. My experience is that heavy fiberglass has far less leak problems. Dave says his has been trouble free, but my aluminum skinned motorhome had lots of leak issues. Frankly I am trying to think of any high end DP from the late 90's other than Bluebird that would have been aluminum skinned. If you are looking at Bluebirds they are wonderful motorhomes. I started out looking at Bluebirds five years ago when I wanted to buy a newer coach. I ended up with a Country Coach because there were a lot more of them on the used market and slides. I saw Bluebirds without slides for sale but few with. I like at least a couple slides, opens up the inside of the coach. I don't like slides on both sides of the front of motorhomes at all, but do like drivers side ones.

Not all aluminum siding is the same. There is very thin aluminum siding, which is just a skin. It is thin enough that a very small amount of corrosion will eventually show up as holes. Because it is thin, it is going to be more prone to leaking, as it has no stiffness to support the joints. On the other hand, there is thicker aluminum siding that is structural. This is a whole different ball game. The aluminum is prestressed which adds strength and rigidity. Typically this will be riveted to the frame and adds strength to the whole structure. This is how my coach is built. It is 30 years old, and I have not ever done any maintenance to any of the seams. The shell has a lot of maintenance free life left in it.